[jonspd]

Ok fellas i have learned alot here in a realy short time and i was just hoping i could get some help benchs on these products or any info would be very helpful. I just got a new 2100Tbred and was wanting to go with a nforce board out of the following 4 boards which do you guys recommend as the best overall board to go along with a hopefully good overclockable tbred2100 .

1.http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...ion=13-131-435

2.http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...ion=13-152-017

3.http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...ion=13-122-106

4.http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...ion=13-130-397

BTW thats in the order I would think is best to not .

[Arkaine23]

Based on user experiences I've seen posted here, I'd choose the Epox 8rda or 8rda+ above all others. It is the best overclocker. The Asus A7N8x would be my 2nd choice, the deluxe model.

The Epox has onboard LAN , USB 2, and sound in the + version, or just USB 2 and a crappier onboard sound in the non+ version. If you have a NIC and good soundcard, Idon't see a reason to get the + version. Hitting above 200 FSB seems very possible on this board if you have good ram,

The Asus offers LAN, better sound (on the deluxe), and RAID (on the deluxe). More features, but a little less overclockable in most cases as well. Should have no trouble to get 200 FSB with the right ram.

[jonspd]

Well thanks for the advice it is alot chiper then the boards i have picked out but has some of the same features. But i had read a thread about someone having to keep sending back epox boards. I dont remember what was wrong with them but after reading that and after haveing a asus i never realy looked in that direction.

[Mugen1516]

I would probably try the Epox 8RDA+ also even though I own the A7N8X (Non-Deluxe). A lot of people seem to struggle to get to 200Mhz FSB including me and Asus has been kinda lazy on their bios releases. The latest ones are flaky.

[Yodums]

Go for the Epox 8RDA+. Asus is a lil buggy (Reason why I don't buy them no more). Epox is cheaper, has great overclocking options, confirmed PCI Lock, and very good customer support. The 8KHA+ is still being supported by Epox when that was released a year ago.

Yodums

[jonspd]

Nice info guys thanks for all the help!

[Lithan]

one thing about the 8rda... REMOVE YOUR VIDEO CARD BEFORE INSTALLING OR UNINSTALLING YOUR RAM. It's been killing Geforce 4's by ripping some electronic component off with the ddr tab if I remember correctly.

Alot of folks seem to be having trouble with the asus nforce 2 and corsair ram. Most blame it on ****ty bios.

You really have to mod the 8rda to get much above 200fsb from what I've heard, better Northbridge and mosfet cooling and a vdd volt mod.

[Emericana]

i have used a Abit NF7 and a Epox 8rda+ and if you do not need high voltages on the ram then i highly recommend the NF7 as being a more stable board. the cpu voltage can be vmodded easy

[jonspd]

Ok the best answer i have got so far is the epox board for its price and overclocking ability but does anyone have anything good to say about the 4 i have listed at the top of this thread. Is the chaintech worth it and what about the leadtek heard a few problems about it and the msi .


Thanks for all the replies tho

[kimbahpnam]

i am curious about the epox sound? how much worse is it than the a7n8x deluxe sound? and is it good enuf not to buy a sound card such as santa cruz turtle beach?

[jonspd]

Iam using a soundblaster live card so really as far as the onboard sound goes i want need it but to answer your question iam pretty sure the sound card will be alot better then the onboard sound. Although i have read alot about the nforce onboard sound being pretty good myself i would reather use a sound card the built in sound.

[Deathknight]

Originally posted by jonspd
Ok the best answer i have got so far is the epox board for its price and overclocking ability but does anyone have anything good to say about the 4 i have listed at the top of this thread. Is the chaintech worth it and what about the leadtek heard a few problems about it and the msi .


Thanks for all the replies tho

I have good things to say about the A7N8X delux. Depends what you are looking for really. It doesn't have the voltages of the 8rda+ but its jam packed with features (excellent audio, tons of usb ports, firewire, sata raid, 2 nic ports).

[jonspd]

Cool thanks for all the info once again guys these forums are great!!!

[EluSiOn]

NVidia's NForce2 APU is equavillent to Audigy1 which is better than SB Live. It supports EAX 2.0

Epox 8RDA+ OC feature
The max vcore on 8RDA+ is 2.2v
The max vdmm on 8RDA+ is 2.9v
The max agp voltage on 8RDA+ is 2.0v
the max FSB on 8RDA+ is 250mhz

8RDA+ does have PCI/AGP lock, say so on Epox website.

8RDA+ is definately capable of running 200mhz FSB if you have the memory good enough to do so (Corsair XMS PC3500C2 and Twinmos PC3200 winbond chip) However, what makes 200mhz FSB happen is the VDD voltage (North Bridge Voltage, NB is also the clock generator)

[jonspd]

Does the 8rda not + version have pci lock ?
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...ion=13-123-192

[EluSiOn]

yes... 8RDA does have PCI/AGP Lock. However its onboard sound sucks.... it did not use Nvidia APU.....


The difference between none PLUS and PLUS version of 8RDA/+ is

No onboard LAN
No Firewire
Inferior onboard sound

Anything else is exactly the same.

[jonspd]

thanks man nice to know these things